Coin-operating device for vending machines



Feb. 17, 1931. c. H. ECKMANN COIN OPERATING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 2'7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR.

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Feb. 17, 1931. Q ECKMANNV 1,793,166

COIN OPERATING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES originari Filed sept. 27 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 W ATTORNEY.

w INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 PATENT oFFiclI-z CHARLES n. ECKMANN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN I COIN-OPERATING DEVICE '.FOR VENDING MACHINES `Original application iled September 27, 1926, Serial No. 137,886. Divided and v 15, 1929. V'Serial No. 863,118.

15 been previously inserted therein.

A further object is to produce a coin operating device forV vending machines that is automatic and which will operate automati-` cally when a coin is dropped therein and in a manner for releasing the mechanism for one rotation only.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the contstruction and ar,

rangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth. l Similar Vparts on all drawingsare marked i by similar numerals. 1;

Fig. 1 represents the front side of my device, showing the coin operating levers and means for connecting with the geared operating mechanism of a vending machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device, showing the relative position of the operating members.

3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the operating mechanism and the relative position of the operating parts. Y

40 The invention herein resides in the coin operating mechanism, thev device being con-V nected with the mechanism of the cigarette vending machine, as shown in the prior patent, of which this application isa division thereof. The entire mechanism of both vend* ing machine and the coin operating mechanism is fully described in the specifications to more clearly set forth the application of the coin operating mechanism.

I will now describe more fullythe detailed Fig. 3 is a sectional ,view taken on the line cigarettes, the cigarettes being attached to a strip of paper at Y uniform intervals, and rolled thereon in a manner that the end will engage the double corrugated feed rolls which .will rotate with the' operating mechanism of the device, the same to be cut from the stripby an operating knife, cutting off one cigarette at each operation ofthe machine, and depositing the same in an open recess in lthe front of the machine. The machine is so vdesigned that it is locked at all times, except when a coin is resting in the coin slot, which allows one complete operation before depositing the coin in a box below, and again locking the machine.

The frame -1- is preferably made of thin sheet metal side plates -2-e and -3-, connected by the separator tubes 4 and firmly bolted together by the bolts 5 passing therethrough, and forming a stid, rigid frame. Near the top of the frame -1- is mounted a support roller -6, rotatably p mounted within the frame -lby the shaft -7- which passes therethrough and engages bearings in the side plates -2- and, -3-. Directly beneath the support roller -6 are mounted two corrugated feed rolls -8- and -9-, also rotatably mounted in the frame -1- by the shafts -.l0- and -11- which pass through the axispf the rollersand engage bearings in the side plates 2 and -3. The said feed rollers 8* and -9- are placed close together and positioned parallel to the axis of the supply roller -6-, and are formed with a series of corrugated grooves -12- thereon which roll together, and are of a size t0 receive a cigarette therein. The two rollers are connected by means of gears 1S-and -14- fixedly attached to this application filed Mayl the ends of the shafts -10- and -1l-, meshing together and causing both corrugated rolls to operate together, for passing a cigarette therethrough. rlhe grooves 12- in cach roll are positioned to meet and coincide with the grooves on the opposite roll. The cigarettes 63 are mounted on a narrow strip of paper w-, spaced equidistant thereon and corresponding to the spacing of the corrugated grooves 12- of the feed rollers, and rolled on the supply roll -6-, but having the end of the roll engaged between the feed rollers -S- and -9-. Directly loeneath the feed rollers -8- and -9- is mounted a knife *l5-, made of a thin metal blade, and iXedly attached to the slide hars -l6- and l7. rlhe slides -16- and --17- are slidably mounted in the cross bars -18- and -19- ixedly attached to frame nl, and sliding in a manner as to allow the knife -15- to move back sufiiciently to allow a single cigarette to pass. A partition wall 20- is lixedly mounted in the frame -l-, positioned opposite the knife -i5-, and is provided with a knife slot h21- for engaging the knife blade therein and for cutting a single cigarette from the roll as the corrugated feed rollers turn. A spring bar -22- is attached to the edge of the knife blade -15- and is supported in the cross bar -l9-, but free toslide therein. A coil com pression spring -23- is mounted on the said spring bar 22-, and in such a manner as to force the knife -l5 into the slot 2lwhen the same is released. An operating handle 24- is pivotally mounted on the outside of the frame Nl, and is supported by the shaft -25- which passes through the side plates -2- and -3--. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 25 is an operating arm -2G-, which carries a ratchet arm 2lpivoted to the outer endY thereof. Said ratchet arm -27 engages a drive ratchet gear *28- fixedly attachedto the end of the feed roller shaft -lO-, and in such a manner that to rock the operating handle -Qfion its-supporting shaft -25-, it will ca use rotation of both of the feed rollers-S- and-Q sufliciently to pass only one groove -12- by the center of the roller, for each operation of the arm, thus deliver only one cigarette for each operation of the handle -2l-, the ratchet gear 28- operating always in the same direction. On the opposite end of the shaft -lO-, outside of the casing -1, is iixedly attached a segment gear -29-, so designed with alternate teeth sections 30- and clearance spaces 31 Birectly be neath the shaft -iO- is mounted the knife operating shaft -32-, positioned parallel to the shaft 10- and rotatably mounted in the sides -2- and -3-V of the frame -i-. On the outer end of the shaft 32- is fixedly attached a pinion gear -33-, positioned to engage the teeth sections 3U- of the seg- '."lin

ment gear -29-, and to mesh therewith, but free to turn back within the alternate clearance spaces -31-, as the gear -29-- rotates, Fixedly attached to the same shaft -32- are two small rack gears 34- and w85-, both of which mesh with the rack sections -3G and -3.7- of the knife slides -16- and -l7-, and so arranged that as the shaft -lO- is rotated through operation of the handle -2#i-, the segment gear 2*9 will engage the teeth sections 30- with the pinion gear 3S- causing a partial rotation thereof, forcing the knife -lback on the supporting slides, allowing a single cigarette to pass, then the pinion gear -33- releases as it reaches one of the clearance spaces 31- in the segment gear -29-. T he coil spring H23- behind the knife -l5- causes it to return and cut the cigarette from the roll, the cigarette dropping in the slide w38- leading to the opening at the front of the frame. The cigarette is then obtainable by the operator. At the lower part of the operating arm is formed an extended lever arm S9- which moves directly with the operating handle 2li- The lever u-39- is provided with an engaging pin d0- projecting from the lower end thereof. Near the bottom of the frame -1- is mounted a rocker shaft -1ll-, rotatably mounted in the sides -2- and -3 and carries a slotted arm 4l-2- iixedly attached thereto, and so positioned that the slot -43- therein will engage the pin e0- of the arm 39m and cause the shaft -41- to rock as the operating handle 24- is turned. A guide bar 441- is fixedly attached to the outsidel of the side plate -2-, and is provided with a notch recess 15-, for engaging the pin 4G- and limiting the movement of the operating handle 24- and connected mechanism, allowing movement for one cigarette only. The coil spring is attached to the arm -42-, causing the return of the operating handle when released. On the front edge of the frame -lis mounted a coin chute a6-w, arranged to receive a coin 50 therein, at the top end thereof, and drop to the lower end thereof. Within the lower end of the chute -Llis projected the end of the trip lever 1H- the same being pivotally mounted on the side plate -3 by the rivet 48-, the lever 47- being raised in the coin chute opening 6lby means of a coil spring -49 attached to the opposite end of the lever, the spring' 4-,9- being of sufficient strength to raise the lever M47* in the coin chute opening, when no coin is in the slide. The weight of the coin -50- is sufficient to force the end of the lever -A- down to the bottom of the chute. The opposite end of the lever -l7 engages the end of the locking bar 5l which is pivoted to the side plate -3 by the rivet -52. The lock bar -5l-, being provided with a ratchet tooth lill? -53-, engages a small ratchet gear -V5L which is iiXedly attached to the end of the shaft -l1-, for locking the entire mecha nism of thedevice when no coin rests on the lever -4'7- in the coin chute, but will unlock as soon as a coin -50- is inserted in the chute. Pivotally attached to the side plate 3- of the frame -1-and in front of the slot -55- at the lower end of the coin slide d6- is mounted a stop arm w56, designed to prevent the coin -50- from passing out of the chute after forcing the lever 117- down. The stop arm --56 is held in place by the link -57- attached to the ioclr arm -58- on the shaft llland is held in that position until the operating arm Q4-e is turned, thus causing a rotation of shaft w41- and releasing the coin e50- from the coin chute -t-e, the coin 5G- passing out of the slot -55- inthe lower edge thereof and into a receiving drawer -59 below, allowing the lock bar 51- to again lock the machine until another coin is inserted therein, also providing for the vending of only one cigarette at a single operation with each coin inserted.

IVhile I have described my invention, as applied to vending cigarettes, it is apparent that the device is equally as well adapted to nse in vending other forms of merchandise as well, and can be applied to vcigars as well as to cigarettes, or to any form of merchandise than can be placed in-a roll.

Having fully described my coin operating device for vending machines, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A coin operating device used in combination with a vending machine adapted for locking and regulating the use'of the Same, comprising a coin chute iXedly mounted in the vending machine frame, a gravity coin lever Xedly mounted within the said frame positioned to interpose one end of the said coin lever within the said coin chute and turn on its supporting pivot under the weight of a coin, means mounted on the coin chute for retaining the coin on the gravity lever until the vending machine has been operated, a ratchet locking wheel rotatably mounted within the said machine frame and connected to the vending machine operating mechanism, a locling'bar pivotally mounted on said frame positioned to engage and lock the said ratchet wheel and connected mechanism, said locking bar being connected to the pivoted gravity coin lever in a manner to disengage the ratchet locking wheel When the coin lever is tilted under a coin weight and means attached to the gravity coin lever to return the same to its horizontal position and relock the vending machine.

2. A coin operating device used in combination with the vending machine for locking and regulating the use thereof, comprising a.

coin chute Xedly mounted within the vending machine, a gravity coin lever'pivotally mounted within the said frame positioned to interpose one end of the said coin lever Within the coin chute and turn upon its supporting pivot under coin weight interposed thereon through the coin chute, a ratchet locking wheel rotatably mounted within said frame and connected directly with the vending machine operating mechanism rotating therewith, a toothed locking bar also mounted within said frame positioned to engage the ratchet locking wheel and prevent rotation thereof thereby locking the vending machine mechanism, said locking bar being connected to the swinging end ofthe gravity coin lever in a manner to be disengaged from the locking ratchet wheel when said gravity level is tilted by a coin weight, a spring attached to the gravity coin lever to return same to the initial locking position when the coin is released therefrom for re-loclzing the ratchet wheel and connected vending machine operating mechanism, and a coin stop arm pivotally mounted on said coin chute connected directly with the vending machine operating mechanism for retaining the coin weight on the gravity coin lever until after the machine is operated and then release the coin from the chute.

In Vwitness whereof, I sign this specification.

-CHARLES I-I. ECKMANN. 

